Seahawks choose LJ Collier as first NFL Draft pick

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Seattle Seahawks selected TCU defensive end L.J. Collier with the No. 29 pick in the first round of the draft and made a pair of trades to bolster their total number of selections.

Seattle addressed one of its major needs on Thursday night by grabbing a versatile pass rusher who can project to rush off the edge and move inside as well. Collier was a first-team All-Big 12 selection in his senior season after recording 42 tackles, 11½ tackles for loss, six sacks, and four pass breakups.

Defensive end became a bigger need this week after Seattle traded Frank Clark to Kansas City.

Seattle was originally set to select at No. 21, but traded that pick — its original selection — to Green Bay in exchange for the No. 30 pick and a pair of fourth-round selections. Seattle has not used its original first-round pick in eight straight drafts and the move this time landed the Seahawks the two extra mid-round picks along with the 30th pick.

That 30th pick was later dealt to the New York Giants as Seattle picked up a second-round pick, an additional fourth-rounder and another fifth-round selection. Seattle began the week with just four selections, the fewest of any team in the NFL. After trading Clark to Kansas City and two trades on the first day, the Seahawks have eight more selections over the final two days along with landing the pass rusher they needed in Collier.